Instituto Cervantes’ Día del Libro: Celebrating the Passion for Books at Ayala Triangle on April 25
In celebration of World Book Day, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, together with the Embassy of Spain and with the support of Ayala Land and Make It Makati, invites the public to the iconic Día del Libro on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Ayala Triangle Gardens.
This full-day celebration promises a vibrant line-up of activities designed to inspire and share the joy of reading with everyone.
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
From fiction to non-fiction, poetry to prose, thousands of books will be up for grabs at the Ayala Triangle. The Día del Libro will feature Manila’s top bookstores and publishing houses, that will be selling a wide array of books at a 20% discount. Following the tradition in Spain, each book purchase will come with a free rose.
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
Día del Libro will officially kick off at 9:00 a.m. with a special inauguration led by H. E. Miguel Utray, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, marking the official opening of this year’s celebration.
Among the activities of Día del Libro 2026, a classic stands out: Escribo el Quijote. Like every year, to commemorate the Day of Miguel de Cervantes, Instituto Cervantes is challenging visitors to join a Quixotic attempt: to handwrite the classic novel Don Quixote de La Mancha -an initiative which Instituto Cervantes started a decade ago. The final hand-written book will be deposited in the Library of Instituto Cervantes. The activity will begin at 9:00 am. No prior registration will be required. Participants in the handwriting chain will receive a free book from Instituto Cervantes.
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
At 9:45 a.m., Instituto Cervantes will host Plantadores de Historias (Story Planters), an activity that invites participants to write poems and short stories on plantable papers, which are then planted on a pot to grow into a plant. This activity uniquely combines ecology and literature, making it specially engaging and meaningful.
On Día del Libro, children and teens will also find their place as they enjoy a story telling session at 10:15 a.m. The story “Las aventuras de Don Quijote” (The Adventures of Don Quixote), offers a delightful first introduction to the world of Don Quijote.
Libros que Importan (Books That Matter) is a public book exchange where participants anonymously share books they love. Each donated book includes a personal note explaining why it holds special meaning, creating a deeper connection between readers.
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
As part of Día de Libro, Instituto Cervantes will offer free beginner Spanish classes at 10:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Visit the Instituto Cervantes booth to join these sessions.
At 12:00 p.m., theatre lovers can catch a sneak peek of Repertory Philippines’ upcoming production of Man of La Mancha, the Tony Award-winning musical inspired by Don Quijote. In this heartfelt adaptation, Nonie Buencamino takes on the dual roles of Don Quijote and Miguel de Cervantes, bringing the story to life with stirring music, and unforgettable moments in an exclusive early preview.
The Argentinian tango performance “Tango para siempre” (Tango Forever) at 12:30 p.m. will share stories through movement, with each step and gesture reflecting the joy and rhythm of literature.
At 1:00 p.m., the Design Center of the Philippines will conduct hands-on workshops on handmade paper, making and journal making, offering participants a creative way to craft their own unique stationary.
Through the poetry recital “Bersong Hispano-Pinoy” at 1:30pm, Instituto Cervantes invites poetry lovers to bring Spanish and Filipino verses to life, celebrating the beauty of the language and the art of expression.
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It will be followed at 2:30 p.m. by Jazz en el parque, a jazz concert by two of Manila’s most exciting young jazz musicians, Gabriel Lazaro and Bergan Nuñez, who will pay their own tribute to the masters of Latin jazz.
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
From 3:00 p.m., Spanish language learners will have the chance to take part in an Universitarian Yincana specially designed for university students across Manila. This event will include activities such as dance, live music, quizzes, poetry creation, drawings and more.
For those interested in art, Instituto Cervantes is presenting the space Latag, where Urban Sketchers Manila will display their works on Día del Libro, and conduct a workshop on sketching.
Book lovers can look forward to book launch presentations organized by several publishers. Visitors will also have the chance to meet authors, and get their books personally signed, thanks to the collaboration of participating publishing houses.
At 3.30 p.m. visitors to Día del Libro are invited to a free Latin dance class, offered by Manila SBKZ Latin Dance Festival.
As gastronomy is an essential part of culture, the participants will have the chance to savor the flavors of Spanish cuisine throughout the day. Don’t miss the special Paella Gigante at 6:15 p.m., presented by the Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, where the dish will be cooked live accompanied by a vibrant flamenco performance, creating a festive and immersive experience for everyone.
To end the evening on a high note, Instituto Cervantes will present a live concert by a renowned Filipino reggae-band Brownman Revival, starting at 8:00 p.m., followed by a lively DJ session to close Día del Libro 2026 in style. For those who want to keep the party going, there will also be La Noche del Libro to continue enjoying music and dancing, at Electric Sala from 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just discovering the joy of books, the Día del Libro 2026 at the Instituto Cervantes de Manila is a day to celebrate the power of words to connect us with each other and to the world around us.
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
IMAGE from Instituto Cervantes Manila
Admission to all Día del Libro activities is FREE on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis.
For more information about Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Día del Libro 2026, visit the pages Dia del Libro 2026 or Instituto Cervantes Manila’s Facebook page.
